Date of Graduation

Spring 5-23-2026

Document Access

Project/Capstone - Global access

Degree Name

Master of Science in Environmental Management (MSEM)

College/School

College of Arts and Sciences

Department/Program

Environmental Management

First Advisor

Stephanie Siehr

Abstract

The Amazon, which is the largest tropical rainforest in the world, experienced 542,581 km² of forest loss between the years 2000 and 2020. The process of deforestation endangers the ecological system results which maintain ecosystem connectivity and the Earth's climate system. The Amazon rainforest supplies essential ecological services which include maintaining soil fertility, storing carbon, purifying water and climate stability. The fundamental ecosystem of this area faces new threats because of increasing forest destruction. The research study adopts a combined methodology that uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) with a comprehensive literature review to study Amazon deforestation patterns and its driving factors and restoration methods. The research show that Brazil accounts for 80 % of total forest loss. The spatial analysis shows a strong connection between road networks and deforestation patterns, which proves that road access allows faster land use change. The link between mining activities and deforestation hotspots exists because dominance of gold mining operations in both legal and illegal activities. The study demonstrates that Indigenous Territories (IT) and Protected Areas (PA) play an important role in reducing deforestation. The results indicate that only 9.3% of the total deforestation in the Amazon occurred in PA and 6.9% in IT. The study emphasizes how governance systems need to establish land tenure security as an essential requirement. The research demonstrates that forest restoration methods which include agroforestry systems, silvopastoral practices, ecological connectivity and land recovery approaches provide effective solutions to reduce deforestation while improving ecosystem resilience. The study demonstrates that deforestation functions as a complex multi-dimensional process which requires governments to implement strategies that include better governance, policy changes and sustainable development practices.

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